COS Launches First Sustainable Activewear Collection With Recycled Fabrics & Organic Cotton

COS, the high-end fashion brand under H&M Group, has just launched its first-ever line of activewear made from sustainable materials. Called COS Active, the new 15-piece collection will feature everything from leggings to outerwear, which will contain recycled fabrics and organic cotton. It comes as more brands in the fashion industry are ramping up sustainability initiatives in response to growing consumer demand. 

London-based label COS, which is well known for its minimalist style and has close to 200 shops in over 30 countries, has just unveiled its first-ever line of workout pieces. The new collection, COS Active, features 15 pieces of activewear, including neutral-toned seamless leggings, sports bras, sweat-proof tops, no-show socks and outerwear. 

All the garments and accessories in the collection are made from a mix of recycled nylon and polyester, as well as raw, renewable and sustainably sourced fabrics such as organic cotton. The entire collection is now available exclusively online, with prices ranging from US$45 to US$190. 

“The collection offers a range of womenswear pieces that incorporate the brand’s key values of functionality and ease, design for an active lifestyle,” said the company in a statement. 

COS has been making greater strides in recent months to up its eco credentials, as consumer appetite for unsustainable fashion production goes awry. Statistics about the fashion industry being responsible for as much as 10% of global carbon emissions and 75% of its output ending up in landfills or incinerators has pressured companies to innovate. 

In December, the company partnered up with the leading rental subscription company in China, YCloset, to launch a new rental program in the country. Users are able to purchase garments off the website as well if they wish to keep select pieces after renting them, with the overall aim of the subscription being to lengthen the lifespan of its products. 

H&M Group, the parent company of COS, has been at the forefront of polishing the reputation of fast fashion by embracing circular models. It recently revamped its flagship store in Stockholm, which featured a three-pronged in-house rental, recycling and repair service. 

For its 2020 Conscious Collection, H&M collaborated with a number of sustainable textile startups to create new upcycled and recycled pieces. Partnering with Vegea, handbags and shoes will be made from vegan leather derived from wine production waste, while some clothing pieces will be created from Circulose fibre, which is made using recovered and recycled denim. 

Most recently, the fast fashion behemoth launched a new sustainable fashion B2B service called Treadler, which will offer other brands access to H&M’s global supply chain and product development support. 

Read more of the latest sustainable fashion news here.

Lead image courtesy of COS.